Top-notch reggae producer Clive Hunt got a major boost this week when English musician Sting reposted the link to the Hunt-produced reggae version of Sting’s iconic Fields of Gold song.
“Sting himself reposted the song on his Instagram Story account after the song’s release, so that was a major deal and it has generated a lot of excitement in the reggae world,” a beaming Hunt said.
Sting’s original song was released as a single in June 1993 by A&M Records, reaching No 16 on the UK Singles Chart and No 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The Third World cover, blending their signature reggae sound with the timeless melody of the beloved classic, was officially released last week to positive reviews. The track is from a joint project with Hunt’s Iconic Azul Music and California-based Ineffable Records and is now available on all major streaming platforms
“This is part of a major Sting project. It’s always an honor to work with a band as iconic as Third World. Fields of Gold is a song that transcends generations, and we wanted to bring out the soul and depth of it through reggae. I believe this version will touch hearts worldwide, just as the original did,” Hunt said.
Third World’s keyboardist and musical director, Cat Coore, said that the band had “always had a great relationship with Clive Hunt”.
“He’s been the producer on quite a few Third World songs and he’s been a friend for many years. It was a pleasure recording this song, Fields of Gold, with Clive, one of Sting’s classics and perhaps his best song. Right now, Third World is in a position where we are doing one off projects and we’re proud to associate with Clive who is one of Jamaica’s best producers,” Coore said.
The Sting project will release a series of covers each week before the eventual release of the album. On February 7, The Elovaters, an American reggae rock band from Boston, brought their verve and funk-dancehall sensibilities to another beloved Sting classic, Roxanne.
The song, written from the point of view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute, is ranked No 388 on the Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and was voted No 85 by VH1 on its list of the “100 Greatest Rock Songs”.
“The Elovaters did a really fantastic job with this Roxanne classic, people are going to love it,” Hunt said.
Musicians Stafford Harrison, Professor/Groundation will deliver another cover, Spirits in the Material World, on February 14, while Kumar’s cover of Message In a Bottle will hit streaming platforms a week later. On February 28, the outstanding J Boog will give his rendition of the ballad, So Lonely.
Hunt, who is now 73, first learned the rudiments of music in the early 1960s while a ward at the Stony Hill school for boys. Hunt’s musical journey actually started out while doing tailoring at the Stony Hill Approved School, where his talent was spotted by the music teacher there.
He continued to develop as a multi-instrumentalist in the Jamaica Military Band and began recording professionally in 1972. Hunt eventually became one of the top session players in Jamaica as well as a trumpeter in the Jamaica Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
Hunt’s reputation grew and he worked on the internationally successful I Can See Clearly Now for Jimmy Cliff, the Steely And Clevie remake of You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) for Dawn Penn, and was employed by veteran rockers the Rolling Stones. Hunt also produced a number of singles with Beres Hammond, including fan-favorite, Putting Up Resistance.
He continues to enjoy an illustrious career which has seen him work with artistes such as Dennis Brown, Carl Dawkins, Max Romeo, The Abyssinians, The Skatalites, Bob Andy, Chalice, Tyrone Taylor, the I-Three, Yvad, Richie Spice and Garnett Silk.
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